Peter has been urging believers to grow in faith and virtue, emphasizing that the prophetic message of Scripture came through the Holy Spirit's guidance, not human invention. He warns that false teachers will arise among them, just as false prophets appeared in Israel's history, introducing destructive heresies and denying the Lord who redeemed them. These false teachers will exploit believers with fabricated stories, though their condemnation has long been established. Peter reminds his readers that God did not spare sinful angels, the ancient world during Noah's time, or the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, but rescued righteous Noah and Lot from those judgments. Peter is addressing believers in various regions of Asia Minor.
[20] knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, [21] for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
[1] But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. [2] And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. [3] By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
[4] For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; [5] and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; [6] and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; [7] and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked [8] (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—
The apostles Paul and Barnabas have just prevented the people of Lystra from offering sacrifices to them after Paul healed a crippled man, causing the crowd to mistake them for the Greek gods Hermes and Zeus. Despite their protests and explanation that they are merely human messengers proclaiming the living God, the crowd remains enthusiastic. Shortly before this incident, Paul and Barnabas had been driven from Iconium by hostile Jews and unbelieving Gentiles who plotted to stone them. They fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, where they continued preaching the gospel. The healing of the lame man sparked the misguided worship attempt that Paul and Barnabas are now struggling to stop, urging the people to turn from worthless idols to the true God who provides rain, crops, and sustenance.
[18] And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
[19] Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. [20] However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
[21] And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, [22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” [23] So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. [24] And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. [25] Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. [26] From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
[27] Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Jesus has just miraculously fed over five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish near the Sea of Galilee. After this sign, the crowd recognizes Jesus as the Prophet and wants to forcibly make him king. Jesus perceives their intention and withdraws alone to a mountain. Meanwhile, his disciples board a boat and begin crossing the sea toward Capernaum as evening approaches. Darkness falls, and a strong wind causes rough waters while the disciples row. Jesus remains on the mountain in solitude, separated from his disciples who struggle against the wind and waves on the sea. The disciples have traveled a considerable distance from shore when these events unfold.
[15] Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
[16] Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, [17] got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. [18] Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. [19] So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. [20] But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” [21] Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
After Jesus commissions the twelve apostles and travels through Galilee, he sets his face toward Jerusalem, knowing his time is approaching. He passes through Samaria, where a village refuses to receive him because he is heading to Jerusalem. Jesus rebukes James and John for wanting to call down fire on the Samaritans. As he journeys toward Jerusalem, various individuals approach him expressing interest in following him, but Jesus emphasizes the demanding nature of discipleship, warning that following him requires complete commitment and sacrifice. He explains that the work is urgent and those who follow must prioritize the kingdom of God above all earthly concerns, including family obligations and personal comfort. Jesus now prepares to expand his mission by appointing and sending out a larger group of disciples beyond the original twelve.
[1] After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. [2] Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. [3] Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. [4] Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. [5] But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ [6] And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. [7] And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. [8] Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. [9] And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ [10] But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, [11] ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ [12] But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
[13] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. [14] But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. [15] And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. [16] He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
[17] Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
[18] And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. [19] Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. [20] Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
[21] In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. [22] All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ”
[23] Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; [24] for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it. ”
The religious leaders have been increasingly hostile toward Jesus throughout His Galilean ministry. They previously accused Him of breaking the Sabbath and conspired to destroy Him after He healed a man's withered hand in the synagogue. Most recently, when Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, the Pharisees blasphemously attributed His power to Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus responded by warning them about the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and teaching about the importance of words revealing the heart's condition. He declared that people would give account for every careless word on the day of judgment, and that by their words they would be justified or condemned. The scribes and Pharisees are now demanding a sign from Jesus to prove His authority.
[38] Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
[39] But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. [42] The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
[43] “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. [44] Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. [45] Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
[46] While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. [47] Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
[48] But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” [49] And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
While Jesus is still speaking with the woman healed from her bleeding condition, messengers arrive from the house of Jairus, a synagogue leader who had earlier fallen at Jesus' feet begging him to come heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter. The messengers inform Jairus that his daughter has now died and there is no need to trouble the teacher further. Jesus overhears this report and tells Jairus not to be afraid but to believe. He then proceeds toward Jairus's house, allowing only Peter, James, and John to accompany him while leaving the rest of the crowd behind. When they arrive at the house, they encounter mourners already wailing and creating a commotion over the girl's death. Jesus is addressing the mourners and Jairus's household.
[35] While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
[36] As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” [37] And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. [38] Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. [39] When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
[40] And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. [41] Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” [42] Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. [43] But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.